Luggage closure construction



June 30, 1942. J.. H.' PLoTKlN LUGGAGE CLOSURE CONSTRUCTIQN Filed April 22. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY5 June 30, 1942- J. H. PLoTKlN LUGGAGE CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 22. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Pafenid June 3o, 1942 UNITED l STATE 2,288,105 LUGGAGE CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION Joseph H. Plotkin, Chicago, Ill.,

kosh Trunks and Luggage,

Wisconsin assignor to Osha corporation of Application April Z2, 1940, Serial No. 330,999 2 Claims. (Cl. 1510-48) My invention consists in an improved construction for the closure portions of hand luggage and the like.

It is an object of my invention to provide a construction for the closure portions of a piece of luggage, whereby quick and easy assembly, with a minimum number of elements, is facilitated. c

Another object is to provide a simple closure construction having reinforcing members whereby the closure retains its shape and neat appearance even though subject to hard use.

More particularly it is an object to provide, in closure means utilizing a zipper or slide fastener, an assembly including members which substantially cover and conceal'the slide fastener Y when the latter is closed.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the form, arrangement and combination ofthe various parts of my closure construction whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a handbag embodying the construction which I have invented.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view, on a somewhat reduced scale, of the central portion of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Figure 5 is a lperspective view of the closure assembly, parts being broken away to show the assembly in vertical section; and

Figure 6 is an exploded view showing the elements which comprise the closure assembly.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral I0 to indicate generally a handbag, consisting of a body portion I2, the opening thereof being provided with a folding closure designated generally as I4, Handles I6 are attached to the body I2 in any suitable manner. Y

My invention resides particularly in an improved construction of the closure portion I4. I preferably make up the closure as a sub-assembly, separate from the body portion I2 of the handbag, and this sub-assembly is best shown in Figure 5. The elements of which it is comprised are shown individually in the exploded view of Figure 6.

Each half of the closure assembly is preferably built around a reinforcing rod I8. In the handbag shown, this rod is formed in the shape of a broad inverted U, the horizontal portion extending across the top of the bag, and the vertical portions extending downwardly at the ends of the bag. The rod I8 is enclosed between the strips and 22, of leather or other suitably strong and flexible material. One of the strips is formed to receive the rod I8, and I have shown the upper or cover strip 22 formed with a ridge 23 in this manner, although it may sometimes be preferable to have the upper strip22 flat, the lower strip 20 then being-formed to'receive the rod' I8.

For closing the luggage employing my construction, I' prefer the well-known zipper" or slide fastener, consistingv of a number of interlocking elements 24 attached to webbing tapes 26. One edge of the tape 26 is interposed between the strips 20 and 22, and so placed that the extending edge 28 of the top strip 22 extends to a line coinciding with the center line of the elements 24 when the latter are in interlocked position.

When the elements I8, 20, 22 and 26 are assembled, a suitable adhesive is applied to the surfaces Which come into adjacent relation, and the parts are fastened together by stitchingalong the line 30.

The assembly thus formed'I refer to as a frame member.- Two frame members formed as above described, and bearing complementary portions of the slide fasteners, are connected at their ends by staples, the crimped ends of which are shown at 32 in Figure 5. Inasmuch as the rod I8 (shown dotted in Figure 5) terminates short of the conrod I8 to protrude vthrough the strip 2U, and 22 form a freely flexible hinge joining the two halves of the assembly, so that when the slide fastener is disengaged, the two frame members may be spread apart.

In some cases, where greater strength is desired, it may be desirable to allow the ends of the rod I8 to protrude through the strip 20, and

to provide a metal link pivotally connected to the ends. The particular hinge arrangement, however, does not constitute a part of my invention,

and any suitable kindmay be used.

The lining 34-is fastened in place by stitching 36 which extends through the strips 20 and 22,

and which is preferably done with the lining in inside-out position, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, so that when it is folded back to the full line position a smooth, neat edge is presented.

The closure sub-assembly is fitted into the body l I2 of the handbag by bringing the edges Y portion of the body portion adjacent the ridges 23.' In this position the closure assembly body portion I2 are fastened together by stitching at 38.

As may be seen particularly in Figure 2, the

I4 and the might soil the contents stitching 30 and 38, running along each side of the rod I8, holds the rod firmly in place, and keeps the assembly stiff and rm.

When the slide fastener ures 1, 2. 3 and 4, the extending edges 28 of the top strips 22 on the two halves of the assembly come together at the center line. thus substantially covering the fastener elements 24. 'The edges 28 are yielding and flexible, so that they permit free passage of the slide 40 when the fastener is being opened or closed, but in the normal position, with the fastener closed, the edges lie as shown in Figure 2. The slide fastener is thereby protected in a substantial degree against the entrance of rain, dirt, etc., which of the bag or cause faulty functioning of the fastener.

Furthermore, the appearance of the top of the bag is materially improved, because it is unbroken by an exposed fastener, which would usually be entirely out of harmony with the texture or character of the other exposed parts of the bag. The strips 22 are preferably made of the same material as the body portion i2, and when this is done, the closure parts of the bag made according to my invention present an altogether neat and attractive appearance.

It will be apparent that my invention can be applied in connection with` closures employing slide fasteners, in many other containers and devices besides the particular handbag which I have shown and described. Furthermore, some changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts of my construction without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use is closed, as in Figl of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a closure member to face and extending along the margin of the piece of luggage adjacent the opening, reinforcing means interposed betweensaid strips, stitching uniting said strips with the margin of said piece of luggage on one side means, and a webbing tape with fastener elements thereon, one edge of said tape being inserted between said strips and retained therebetween by stitching through said strips on the side'of said reinforcing means opposite said rst mentioned stitching and adjacent said kfastener elements, the outer one of said strips projecting from the line of said last-mentioned stitching to the center line of the fastener elements.

2. In a closure assembly for the opening in a piece of hand luggage, two pairs of strips of ilexible material, the two strips of each pair being placed face to face, rigid reinforcing members interposed between said two strips in each pair, stitching uniting said strips on one side of said reinforcing means, a webbing tape with fastening `elements thereon, insertedI between said two strips and retained therebetween by stitching through said strips on the side of vsaid reinforcing means opposite said first mentioned stitching and adjacent said fastener elements, the outer one of said strips -projecting beyond the line of saidv last mentioned stitching to the center line of the fastener elements, and the ends of said pairs of strips being joined together. thereby hinging said rigid reinforcing members relative toeach other.

JOSEPH H. PLOTKIN.

for the opening in aV piece of handluggage, a pair of strips placed face `of said reinforcing one edge of said tape being 

